Letter to the Times: Lords reform

13 August 2012

Meg Russell’s letter in The Times

Sir, Lord Steel of Aikwood (“Clegg will look petulant if he walks away”,
Aug 8) has suggested that the Constitution Unit might assist in finding
the long-term way forward on Lords reform. We would of course be happy
to do so. But he is also right that Clegg and Cameron should now be
pressed to put through lesser but essential reforms, having abandoned
their more ambitious Bill. The chamber has become too big, and the
patronage enjoyed by the Prime Minister is indefensible. He still
decides how many peers are appointed, when, and from which party. Also
indefensible is the absurd system of “by-elections” to replace the
remaining hereditary peers when they die.

As David Steel has emphasised, all agree that reforms to end these
anomalies are necessary and would strengthen Parliament. The only
disagreement is over whether they are sufficient. Nick Clegg told the
Commons on May 17 last year that “the key thing is not to make the best
the enemy of the good. That approach has stymied Lords reform for far
too long”. He was right, and he should remain true to that principle
now.